Undersea cables are the lifeline of the global internet and, therefore, of the entire global digital ecosystem. The global internet traffic relies on the vast network of undersea cables, also known as submarine cables, which are responsible for transmitting almost all of the internet data. These undersea cables are essentially bundles of fibre optics, laid between land-based stations, stretching for about 1.4 million kilometres across the seabed. Around 99 per cent of the global internet data is estimated to be carried by these very cables. Thus, from trade, banking transactions, navigation and e-commerce to students taking online classes, all digital activity relies on smooth functioning of the undersea cables. Yet, despite their critical role, these cables are quite fragile. They are extremely vulnerable to being damaged by ship anchors, fishing activities or even by deliberate sabotage. On average, around 150-200 incidents of undersea cable damages are recorded every year. The impacts of these damages are felt worldwide in the form of service delays and........

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